Welcome

The music of composer Alex Stephenson has been described as “masterfully orchestrated” and exhibiting “sonic beauty” (San Diego Union-Tribune). His work draws in equal parts from a deep-rooted lyrical spirit, a fascination with the science of sound perception, and a love of musical repertoires both old and new. With each project, he intertwines these diverse influences in novel ways, curating sonic worlds that feel simultaneously fresh and familiar. Alex has worked in a variety of contexts, from the acoustic to the electronic, from concert music to sound installations and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Alex Stephenson’s music has been commissioned by and received performances at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Breckenridge Music Festival, Royaumont Voix Nouvelles Festival, Tanglewood Music Center, ISCM World New Music Days, Composers Conference, and the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, among others. Recent collaborators include the New Fromm Players, the Flux Quartet, Ensemble Dal Niente, Duo Axis, HOCKET, and the La Jolla Symphony. His music theory scholarship appears in Music Theory Online.

Alex is a graduate of the University of California San Diego (Ph.D.), the Eastman School of Music (M.A.), and the University of Chicago (B.A.). He was also a US-UK Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London. He is currently Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Illinois State University, where he also co-directs the RED NOTE New Music Festival.

Photo credit: Jessica C. Flores

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